WASHINGTON – The Mautner Project, the National Lesbian Health Organization will honor the late Cheryl Spector, a longtime activist in Washington, DC’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community with its Unsung Hero Award on September 29th. Spector had been battling with leukemia for the past several months, and died this week at the George Washington University Hospital. Spector’s sister Barbara will accept Mautner’s award on her behalf.
“Cheryl has been an inspiration to our community, building our capacity not only by creating political change, but also through supporting cultural production and maintaining our history. She understood that we are a whole community and we will continue the work she began creating more change, more art, and remembering our history in order to build a more just world,” said Mautner Project Interim Executive Director Andrea Densham. “The Mautner Project staff and supporters will be honored to follow through on a promise we made to Cheryl – to celebrate her life and work.”
In addition to her family, Cheryl will be remembered by hundreds of friends whose lives she touched in her decades of service to the LGBT community. D. Magrini, a friend and Health Education Coordinator at the Mautner Project, remembered Spector fondly.
“I remember returning to a D.C. where Cheryl was omnipresent. It didn’t matter where you went or what crowd you were with, she was there. She knew so many people - not in a superficial way but by having real connections with all parts of the community.”
Spector logged many hours of time and skills with LGBT organizations over the years, including the Mautner Project, Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Rainbow History Project, OUT! (which she co-founded), ACT-UP, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Human Rights Campaign, and others. In addition, she created an extensive archive of local LGBT culture, loyally documenting hundreds of drag performances and other events.
Cheryl was an active member of the Metropolitan Community Church as well as Beth Mishpachah, and a public memorial is planned for Sunday, September 30, 2007. Details are forthcoming.
The Mautner Project extends its heartfelt condolences to all of those in our community affected by her loss. We encourage those in need of support to call us at 202.332.5536.
The Mautner Project is the national lesbian health organization. The Mautner Project’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women who partner with women through advocacy, education, direct services, and research. To obtain information, or learn more about the Mautner Project, call 202-332-5536 or visit www.mautnerproject.org.
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